Subic Keeps Title as No. 1 Tourist Destination in CL
by Louella G. Vizcocho
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Tourist traffic in the first semester of 2015 kept paced with the growth of the shipping industry here, records released by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Office show.
SBMA Chairman & Administrator Roberto V. Garcia atttributes the feat to the “efforts of our tourism team and the rest of our agency, as well as the support and cooperation of our tourism stakeholders and the entire Freeport community.”
Visitor arrivals was at 3,754,276, according to the report, but only those who stayed at least for a night were classified as tourists, which, at 749,157 was still a 27% increase compared to 2014 figures for the same period.
The figures covered only arrivals that passed through the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).
Non-sports events held at the Freeport were up 35%, banking on the 200% increase of international and 32% local events.
International Sports events registered a 67% increase, averaging more than one event a week, as the Freeport solidified its lead as the no. 1 tourist destination in the entire Central Luzon region.
Recently, the Dept. of Tourism (DOT) – Region III has cited Subic for “having consistently topped the list of most visited places in the region.”
According to DOT Regional Director Ronaldo Tiotuico, “Subic obtained the higest number of regional travellers – both local and foreign – based on reports submitted by accomodation establishments in all the seven (7) provinces and two (2) special economic zones in the region.”
Aside from being the No. 1 destination in the region, Subic has continued to live up to its title as “Premier Convention Capital of Central Luzon,” said Garcia, referring to the title bestowed by the DOT in 2012.
“The number of conventions here has grown by 150% in 2013 to 2014, with a corresponding 94% increase in the number of participants for the same period,” Garcia explained.
Hotel occupancy rate from Janunary to June 2015 in the Freeport topped the regional average of 62%, registering some 67%, up compared to last year’s 64.48%.
